The Paddock Restaurant & Bar - Cairns

I should confess that I am not too enthused about Mexican food which might have influenced my rating of this venue. I was a guest at the associated motel and did not have time to prepare for an evening out. I learned from publicity in the motel room that the Harvest Mexican had recently been created from a small disused lane. The brochure described it being a " laneway bar Mexican eatery with sustainable and ethical Australian food, craft beer, wine and liquers". It certainly had the atmosphere. Most of the tables and wall adornments appeared to have been constructed from old wooden pallets.The menu was rather limited but my dining partner and I opted for the most expensive item ($15) an enchilada. Unfortunately he ordered two enchiladas thinking that each would be served separately on a plate. The servery interpreted the order as being for one person and served it on a paper mat on a plastic tray. On request a second plastic tray and mat were provided and one enchilada was transferred without totally breaking up.While opting for the dearest meal we selected the cheapest craft beer, a Coopers ale at $6. I perused the wine list and despite the fact I have been drinking wine for more than 50 years I did not recognize any of the red or white wines listed although I knew all of the wine growing areas on the print list. The wines were expensive and we were not ready to risk big dollars on a wine we did not know.

nice tasty full of flavour food - I like Mexican so I was impressed to find a good quality store in Cairns

Ok, it has taken me over a week to finally write this. I did not want to recall the very bad experience straight away as did not want it to ruin my mood!We were all very excited to visit the Harvest Mexican in it's second week of infancy. There were 4 of us and it looked like it was going to rain, so we sat inside near the bar.First it started with the cocktails. All but myself, decided to order cocktails/alcoholic drinks. They came out and at $18 they were not at all presented like they should've been. I am not drinking, so asked for a Coke Zero and they ran around looking but couldn't find one. Eventually I had to resort to a soda water with lime, as that seems to be the only non-alcoholic drink they could come up with for myself.We all went up to the bar to place our orders. We sat and talked for a while before the food came out. Half of our meals came out while the others waited for a good 15 mins for theirs to arrive. One of the items was the same as what had already come out?? The toastada...now as we all know when you go out to dinner this is not acceptable to be staring at the food on the table, waiting for everyone else's to come out.I could not believe my eyes!!! I ordered the rib, which for $15, would've not even hit the sides! The presentation and the food was absolutely appalling! The tostada was soooo dry that it was inedible. Finally the other half of the table got their food and everyone took one month full and were absolutely disgusted. We called the manager over first to complain about the rib. The response was so arrogant! 'All our customers know that we use the finest ingredients. This is a Cape Grim rib' We all commented that one rib wasn't sufficient for the cost and that it doesn't state that it was Cape Grim on the menu. The manager agreed to refund the Tostada but not the rib and refried beans I hadn't touched But just the absolute arrogance!! I refused to eat my meal as I felt insulted and not tended to in the appropriate manner. My friends tried it for me and said it was ok.The manager came back and handed my partner and friend, who had the tostada, $15 cash each and that was that and walked away. Not accomodating at all. I think the manager may need to have a lesson or two in customer service to put it bluntly.It was appalling!!!! Not Mexican flavours and not Mexican at all! I would not step foot in this place ever again! And it's a shame because I attended the opening of this place and have been raving about it ever since! We all left hungry and upset. Once again if you don't look after your locals then you will not have a business! How difficult or costly would it have been to refund me my money? If a customer isn't happy refund their money and let them be. But no!Biggest rip off and worst attitude I've experienced in Cairns Bye bye Harvest and the PaddockHave a look at the photos and the appalling presentation!! For this one tray, including a soda water and a rum and Coke, the bill came to almost $60!!!! I have shown people and they can't believe the lack thereof!

We ordered tuna and grilled vegies through room service in our motel. What arrived 20 mins later looked weird, cost nearly 100 bucks and was not fit for human consumption. The vegies were wilted and chewy, the tuna raw and tasting off, and for some reason we got what remotely smelled of chicken but tasted like cardboard. We returned the dinner untouched, and the staff didn't even notice. If you value your gastric health, maybe skip. There is a Hungry Jacks up the road for desperados.

Sat night- maybe 10 people all night. Entree was beet cured tuna (nice albeit small) and pork belly (average). Mains beef ribs and chips (ribs were nice) and 300g sirloin (asked for medium came back very rare) with chorizo mushrooms ( chorizo was verrry pale and not reccomendable). Drinks were nice but very pricey ($19 I think!) and they had a limited ingredient list. Had some alcoholic desserts (ok) then paid. Thought we would have another cocktail and sit in the bar while waiting for a taxi, were told to sit out in the laneway and they would bring drinks- nearly froze to death- laneway was totally empty and the drinks took over 15 mins while we waited in the wind. I have no idea why we couldnt of just sat in the bar as it was dead and already after 8.30 so unlikely to get too busy too quickly. I had heard great reveiws but seems they were outdated. Wouldnt go again.